Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Pay It Forward
On September 8th 2009, I donated my time and lead an effort to empower a staff of over 500 employees at a soon-to-be-closed American Airline call center in Windsor, Connecticut. The event was held at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino, in Uncasville Connecticut.
I have flown all over the country with American Airlines during my career as a comedian and a speaker. Throughout the years I got to know some of the workers very well. One person In particular is Barbra Bell. Or as I like to call her, My miracle worker.
When I learned of the pending closure, I decided that I was going to somehow help the departing workers find optimism during these trying times. I t was my way of saying "Thank You" for the many years of outstanding service they provided. I told Barbra that I was going to speak to the entire group at a venue in their area. Her response was "How in the world are you going to do that!?" My response to her was "I don't know, but I will find a way."
In the movie "Field O f Dreams" Kevin Costner hears a voice "Build it and they will come."
Well, I heard a voice inside me that said, "Ask and they will do it." That's exactly what I did and that's exactly what happened.
The first person to jump on board was Diane Goodman, President of Goodman's Speakers Bureau. Together we created an event themed "Don't Stop Believin." The following are those who graciously donated to the cause. Gina M. Rodigau, CMP, director of hotel sales at the Mohegan Sun, who allowed us to use the beautiful Cabaret Theater for the event. Darby O'Brien, advertising and public relations, who helped promote the event. Dattco, a New Britain based bus company, volunteered to provide American employees with no-cost transportation to the event and back. And the magnificent Passing Zone, my friends and a much sought after juggling act, who performed with me. By the way, these guys received four standing ovations. Wait, there's more. The event was also sponsored by Al Parinello, Executive Producer of the film "Clear Blue Tuesday."
This entire event brought together five industries that were hit by the current economy in an act of mutual support. As I said in the press release, "These are trying times. It's time we all look at the big picture and ask ourselves what it is that we can do to help each other." The message, "Pay it Forward."
Without a doubt, giving of ourselves is the one activity that makes us realize that we are all connected, and that it's this connection that plays a big part in making the world wonderful. Words cannot express the emotions and the gratitude from those who attended the event on September 8th. It is without a doubt one of the most gratifying feelings a person can experience. I can honestly say that I am the happiest when I've done something nice for someone. Don't just take my word for it. Try it for yourself, The next time an opportunity arises, take the initiative and perform an act of kindness for someone (even a stranger) and notice how you feel. For example, the next time you are walking through town and notice a parking summons on someones windshield, go over to the car, yank that sucker off, rip it up and throw it away! Why should that person have to pay for it? See, you feel better already, don't you?
These are trying times my friends! Once again, the message, "PAY IT FORWARD" Let's help each other.
I have flown all over the country with American Airlines during my career as a comedian and a speaker. Throughout the years I got to know some of the workers very well. One person In particular is Barbra Bell. Or as I like to call her, My miracle worker.
When I learned of the pending closure, I decided that I was going to somehow help the departing workers find optimism during these trying times. I t was my way of saying "Thank You" for the many years of outstanding service they provided. I told Barbra that I was going to speak to the entire group at a venue in their area. Her response was "How in the world are you going to do that!?" My response to her was "I don't know, but I will find a way."
In the movie "Field O f Dreams" Kevin Costner hears a voice "Build it and they will come."
Well, I heard a voice inside me that said, "Ask and they will do it." That's exactly what I did and that's exactly what happened.
The first person to jump on board was Diane Goodman, President of Goodman's Speakers Bureau. Together we created an event themed "Don't Stop Believin." The following are those who graciously donated to the cause. Gina M. Rodigau, CMP, director of hotel sales at the Mohegan Sun, who allowed us to use the beautiful Cabaret Theater for the event. Darby O'Brien, advertising and public relations, who helped promote the event. Dattco, a New Britain based bus company, volunteered to provide American employees with no-cost transportation to the event and back. And the magnificent Passing Zone, my friends and a much sought after juggling act, who performed with me. By the way, these guys received four standing ovations. Wait, there's more. The event was also sponsored by Al Parinello, Executive Producer of the film "Clear Blue Tuesday."
This entire event brought together five industries that were hit by the current economy in an act of mutual support. As I said in the press release, "These are trying times. It's time we all look at the big picture and ask ourselves what it is that we can do to help each other." The message, "Pay it Forward."
Without a doubt, giving of ourselves is the one activity that makes us realize that we are all connected, and that it's this connection that plays a big part in making the world wonderful. Words cannot express the emotions and the gratitude from those who attended the event on September 8th. It is without a doubt one of the most gratifying feelings a person can experience. I can honestly say that I am the happiest when I've done something nice for someone. Don't just take my word for it. Try it for yourself, The next time an opportunity arises, take the initiative and perform an act of kindness for someone (even a stranger) and notice how you feel. For example, the next time you are walking through town and notice a parking summons on someones windshield, go over to the car, yank that sucker off, rip it up and throw it away! Why should that person have to pay for it? See, you feel better already, don't you?
These are trying times my friends! Once again, the message, "PAY IT FORWARD" Let's help each other.
Monday, August 17, 2009
WORK SHOULD BE FUN
Hello my friends, and once again welcome to my Blah, Blah, Blah, Blog. Well I am about to launch my new video Demo. I must say that it is the best video I have ever done. Thanks to the great Ed Primeau and Shelly Sink.
Ed has been my business associate and close friend for over 16 years. He is without a doubt the "Ultimate Expert" on video and audio production. What separates Ed from anyone else in his field, (besides the fact that he's the best) is his ability to make business personal. Let me explain.
Creating a video demo and product for speakers is not an easy task. After all, you're dealing with arguably the two biggest marketing tools in the speaking industry. There are a lot of egos to stroke, deadlines to be met, and money to be spent. Through the entire step by step process Ed assures everyone he works with that their needs are being taken care of.
Ed's greatest quality and I believe his strongest asset is his ability is to enjoy the process of whatever he is creating. I spent 3 days in his studio and through all the snags, setbacks, and mishaps, the laughter was non-stop. Ed Primeau is a Humor Being to the tenth-power. He always manages to see the humor in the midst of frustrating and challenging situations. It is this very quality that enables him to bounce back and continue from a healthier, more productive mind-set. Laughter instantly clears the mind of negative clutter and rejuvenates burn-out better than anything I know. Laughter also ignites the creative process.
Studies have shown that those who make conscious choices to enjoy themselves and laugh throughout the day are more creative, productive, and resilient to challenging problems. They are also more likely to easily find solutions to complex problems. In other words, focusing on your happiness makes you smarter. How smart are you, dear reader?
"Intellectual benefits of a good laugh," says Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, "Are most striking when it comes to solving problems that demand a creative solution."
One study found that people who had just watched a video of television bloopers were better at solving a puzzle often used by psychologists to test creative thinking. In the test, people are given a candle, matches and a box of tacks. They are asked to attach the candle to a corkboard wall so that it burns without dripping wax on the floor.
"Given the challenge, most people fall into 'functional fixedness." says Goleman. "They think about using the objects in the most conventional ways. But people who have just watched a funny film, compared to people who have watched a film about math or who have exercised, were more likely to see an alternative use for the box holding the tacks. They come up with the creative solution of tacking the box to the wall and using it as a candleholder."
A study done at San Diego State University followed students who thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they attended a series of lectures that contained wit, laughter, and anecdotes. These students achieved higher test scores than students who attended the same lectures without the humorous elements. Why? Because they were Enjoying The Process!
One time Ed was video taping me for one of my "Rizzo's Secret Minute To Success" segments. It was near the end of a really long day, my energy level was at rock bottom and it was getting increasingly difficult to concentrate. We were on the 27th take and my nerves were beginning to unravel. For some reason Ed finds it very amusing when I get frustrated. Just when I was one sentence away from finishing the shoot, Ed's dog Tanya came into the studio and decided to bark. For a moment there was silence. I shook my head in disgust and blurted, "That's it!""I quit!" I glanced over at Ed who was trying with all his might to refrain from laughing. "What the h~*! is so funny!" I said. Then he lost all control and went into hysteria. Wiping the tears from his eyes and trying to catch his breath, he said, "You should have seen the look on your face!" Then he mimicked my expression. There is truth to the phrase "Laughter is contagious;" because it didn't take long before I was infected. We both laughed for quite some time. What really drove us over the edge was when we reviewed the 27 takes or should I say Bloopers. It really was amusing to see myself getting frustrated and to hear myself swear.
I am certain that the laughter gave us the time out we needed to unwind and relax. It literally lifted our spirits and gave us enough energy to finish the project on the next take.
The fact is, and you can prove this to yourself at any time, if you're having fun at work everyone benefits. This holds true for every aspect of our lives. No matter who you are of what you are doing, whether you are teaching or learning, if you are enjoying the process the odds are in your favor that you'll achieve the outcome you desire.
Ed has been my business associate and close friend for over 16 years. He is without a doubt the "Ultimate Expert" on video and audio production. What separates Ed from anyone else in his field, (besides the fact that he's the best) is his ability to make business personal. Let me explain.
Creating a video demo and product for speakers is not an easy task. After all, you're dealing with arguably the two biggest marketing tools in the speaking industry. There are a lot of egos to stroke, deadlines to be met, and money to be spent. Through the entire step by step process Ed assures everyone he works with that their needs are being taken care of.
Ed's greatest quality and I believe his strongest asset is his ability is to enjoy the process of whatever he is creating. I spent 3 days in his studio and through all the snags, setbacks, and mishaps, the laughter was non-stop. Ed Primeau is a Humor Being to the tenth-power. He always manages to see the humor in the midst of frustrating and challenging situations. It is this very quality that enables him to bounce back and continue from a healthier, more productive mind-set. Laughter instantly clears the mind of negative clutter and rejuvenates burn-out better than anything I know. Laughter also ignites the creative process.
Studies have shown that those who make conscious choices to enjoy themselves and laugh throughout the day are more creative, productive, and resilient to challenging problems. They are also more likely to easily find solutions to complex problems. In other words, focusing on your happiness makes you smarter. How smart are you, dear reader?
"Intellectual benefits of a good laugh," says Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, "Are most striking when it comes to solving problems that demand a creative solution."
One study found that people who had just watched a video of television bloopers were better at solving a puzzle often used by psychologists to test creative thinking. In the test, people are given a candle, matches and a box of tacks. They are asked to attach the candle to a corkboard wall so that it burns without dripping wax on the floor.
"Given the challenge, most people fall into 'functional fixedness." says Goleman. "They think about using the objects in the most conventional ways. But people who have just watched a funny film, compared to people who have watched a film about math or who have exercised, were more likely to see an alternative use for the box holding the tacks. They come up with the creative solution of tacking the box to the wall and using it as a candleholder."
A study done at San Diego State University followed students who thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they attended a series of lectures that contained wit, laughter, and anecdotes. These students achieved higher test scores than students who attended the same lectures without the humorous elements. Why? Because they were Enjoying The Process!
One time Ed was video taping me for one of my "Rizzo's Secret Minute To Success" segments. It was near the end of a really long day, my energy level was at rock bottom and it was getting increasingly difficult to concentrate. We were on the 27th take and my nerves were beginning to unravel. For some reason Ed finds it very amusing when I get frustrated. Just when I was one sentence away from finishing the shoot, Ed's dog Tanya came into the studio and decided to bark. For a moment there was silence. I shook my head in disgust and blurted, "That's it!""I quit!" I glanced over at Ed who was trying with all his might to refrain from laughing. "What the h~*! is so funny!" I said. Then he lost all control and went into hysteria. Wiping the tears from his eyes and trying to catch his breath, he said, "You should have seen the look on your face!" Then he mimicked my expression. There is truth to the phrase "Laughter is contagious;" because it didn't take long before I was infected. We both laughed for quite some time. What really drove us over the edge was when we reviewed the 27 takes or should I say Bloopers. It really was amusing to see myself getting frustrated and to hear myself swear.
I am certain that the laughter gave us the time out we needed to unwind and relax. It literally lifted our spirits and gave us enough energy to finish the project on the next take.
The fact is, and you can prove this to yourself at any time, if you're having fun at work everyone benefits. This holds true for every aspect of our lives. No matter who you are of what you are doing, whether you are teaching or learning, if you are enjoying the process the odds are in your favor that you'll achieve the outcome you desire.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
In every experience you face, there is always a moment when all problems start out as merely seed possibilities. It is your responsibility to make sure that they don't blossom into emotional havoc. Every spiritually evolved person that I have read about alludes to a principle that states that there is always a peaceful part of us that we can turn to and react from when times are tough. Buddha, Confucius, Gandhi, Jesus, and many others have embraced this philosophy. Jesus said, "Turn the other cheek."
What does it mean to "turn the other cheek?" Well, first of all it doesn't mean that we should lie down and allow people who have offended us to continue to walk all over us. It doesn't mean that we should give life's circumstances permission to repeatedly take advantage of us. Whenever we find ourselves in turmoil over a situation or something someone has said or done, our turmoil is an indication that we have been in the wrong state of consciousness. When we react to whatever upsets us in the same state of mind we only compound the problem. "Turning the other cheek" is an opportunity for you to shift perspective and respond from the Higher part of yourself - the other side of you.
Awareness is the first step towards turning inner conflict around. The problem is that most of us go through the course of our lives unaware that our negative emotions and inner conflicts are sucking the energy right our of us. If you are not aware of what's happening to you, it's impossible to choose a better way to respond. When confronted with a challenge or problem there is always a point where you can respond to the situation from the level of human consciousness alone and risk letting the situation to consume you: or you can shift perspective "turn the other cheek" and remind yourself that you are also a spiritual being and respond from your Higher Self.
Let's say that you find yourself getting angry or jealous over a particular situation in your life: immediately say to yourself - "Where is this going to take me?" If you don't like the answer (and when you think of the repercussions, you will not) know that you have the power to change the outcome. There is always a potential of strength within you in times of weakness. That strength comes from your Higher Self. You are both human and divine. There is that in you that can never be hurt: that is always dignified and calm and that knows your unity with God. That's "the other cheek" - the side you turn to.
Whatever challenges you are facing, whatever your desires are, it all comes down to how you evaluate yourself in the situation. When a healthy outcome seems to be a human impossibility remember to "turn the other cheek" and respond from your Higher Self. If you do you will come to know that no one or no situation can take your good from you unless you allow it to happen. Your Higher Self always brings out the best in you when your world seems to have fallen apart at the seams.
What does it mean to "turn the other cheek?" Well, first of all it doesn't mean that we should lie down and allow people who have offended us to continue to walk all over us. It doesn't mean that we should give life's circumstances permission to repeatedly take advantage of us. Whenever we find ourselves in turmoil over a situation or something someone has said or done, our turmoil is an indication that we have been in the wrong state of consciousness. When we react to whatever upsets us in the same state of mind we only compound the problem. "Turning the other cheek" is an opportunity for you to shift perspective and respond from the Higher part of yourself - the other side of you.
Awareness is the first step towards turning inner conflict around. The problem is that most of us go through the course of our lives unaware that our negative emotions and inner conflicts are sucking the energy right our of us. If you are not aware of what's happening to you, it's impossible to choose a better way to respond. When confronted with a challenge or problem there is always a point where you can respond to the situation from the level of human consciousness alone and risk letting the situation to consume you: or you can shift perspective "turn the other cheek" and remind yourself that you are also a spiritual being and respond from your Higher Self.
Let's say that you find yourself getting angry or jealous over a particular situation in your life: immediately say to yourself - "Where is this going to take me?" If you don't like the answer (and when you think of the repercussions, you will not) know that you have the power to change the outcome. There is always a potential of strength within you in times of weakness. That strength comes from your Higher Self. You are both human and divine. There is that in you that can never be hurt: that is always dignified and calm and that knows your unity with God. That's "the other cheek" - the side you turn to.
Whatever challenges you are facing, whatever your desires are, it all comes down to how you evaluate yourself in the situation. When a healthy outcome seems to be a human impossibility remember to "turn the other cheek" and respond from your Higher Self. If you do you will come to know that no one or no situation can take your good from you unless you allow it to happen. Your Higher Self always brings out the best in you when your world seems to have fallen apart at the seams.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU VIEW IT
Years ago, I was waiting for what I considered to be a very important phone call from my agent. He had left a message the night before stating that three shows that had been booked were now cancelled, and a television special I was in the running for, now looked bleak.
I immediately called him the next morning. His secretary said he was in a meeting. She assured me he would call me as soon as the meeting was over. Three hours went by, and still no call. I decided to call again. This time his secretary said he was out to lunch. I hung up the phone. I was very angry. All kinds of negative thoughts were going through my head. When thoughts go through my head - negative or positive - I have a tendency to repeat them out loud as I pace back and forth.
A few more hours went by and I had actually convinced myself that my agent didn't care about my needs or my career.
At that point I was overwhelmed by negativity and I started talking to the phone. Now, let me make this clear. I wasn't talking on the phone - I was talking to the phone. "Let me wait, will you? I don't deserve this kind of treatment! Who do you think you are?!" Even my dogs were looking at me as if to say, "Don't you have to pick it up first?"
Apparently my wife was observing the entire ordeal. Without missing a beat, she stepped in front of me, grabbed the phone, disconnected the wires from my desk and started yelling at the phone. "Yeah! Who do you think you are, treating my husband like that? Bad telephone! Bad telephone!" Then she took it and threw it in the garbage. I looked at her and said, "What are you doing?"
"Honey, I don't know what that phone did to upset you", she said, "but whatever it was, it will no longer stay in this house." Then she said, "Is the fax machine bothering you too? How about the computer? Because if they are, I won't tolerate it!" Then she literally yelled through every room in the house, "Now hear this! Can I have your attention please? All of the appliances, pieces of furniture, and all other inanimate objects! If you do anything to upset my husband, out you go! This is the law! I have spoken!!!" Then she quietly walked away. She burst back into my office, approached the phone that was in the garbage and said, "You're not so tough now are you?" She then turned to me, Kissed me on the cheek, patted my head, and said, "You see honey, you just have to learn how to take control!" And walked out of the room.
After watching this crazy woman running around the house, in a rampage, yelling at everything in sight, I noticed something was different. I was laughing. The question is - Why was I laughing at a situation that only seconds earlier had me emotionally distraught? The answer of course, is that my wife's crazy antics helped me pull myself away from this negative experience. She enabled me to see myself star in a scene from my own comedy movie. As a result, I realized I was sweating the small stuff and blowing the whole thing out of proportion and my emotional state made a complete turn around. Twenty minutes later, my agent called and I was able to listen to him and tell him my concerns, without the anger and frustrations.
It is truly amazing the power we can acquire when we allow ourselves the emotional luxury to pull ourselves away from our emotional scenes and give ourselves permission to view them from THE HUMOR PERSPECTIVE.
I immediately called him the next morning. His secretary said he was in a meeting. She assured me he would call me as soon as the meeting was over. Three hours went by, and still no call. I decided to call again. This time his secretary said he was out to lunch. I hung up the phone. I was very angry. All kinds of negative thoughts were going through my head. When thoughts go through my head - negative or positive - I have a tendency to repeat them out loud as I pace back and forth.
A few more hours went by and I had actually convinced myself that my agent didn't care about my needs or my career.
At that point I was overwhelmed by negativity and I started talking to the phone. Now, let me make this clear. I wasn't talking on the phone - I was talking to the phone. "Let me wait, will you? I don't deserve this kind of treatment! Who do you think you are?!" Even my dogs were looking at me as if to say, "Don't you have to pick it up first?"
Apparently my wife was observing the entire ordeal. Without missing a beat, she stepped in front of me, grabbed the phone, disconnected the wires from my desk and started yelling at the phone. "Yeah! Who do you think you are, treating my husband like that? Bad telephone! Bad telephone!" Then she took it and threw it in the garbage. I looked at her and said, "What are you doing?"
"Honey, I don't know what that phone did to upset you", she said, "but whatever it was, it will no longer stay in this house." Then she said, "Is the fax machine bothering you too? How about the computer? Because if they are, I won't tolerate it!" Then she literally yelled through every room in the house, "Now hear this! Can I have your attention please? All of the appliances, pieces of furniture, and all other inanimate objects! If you do anything to upset my husband, out you go! This is the law! I have spoken!!!" Then she quietly walked away. She burst back into my office, approached the phone that was in the garbage and said, "You're not so tough now are you?" She then turned to me, Kissed me on the cheek, patted my head, and said, "You see honey, you just have to learn how to take control!" And walked out of the room.
After watching this crazy woman running around the house, in a rampage, yelling at everything in sight, I noticed something was different. I was laughing. The question is - Why was I laughing at a situation that only seconds earlier had me emotionally distraught? The answer of course, is that my wife's crazy antics helped me pull myself away from this negative experience. She enabled me to see myself star in a scene from my own comedy movie. As a result, I realized I was sweating the small stuff and blowing the whole thing out of proportion and my emotional state made a complete turn around. Twenty minutes later, my agent called and I was able to listen to him and tell him my concerns, without the anger and frustrations.
It is truly amazing the power we can acquire when we allow ourselves the emotional luxury to pull ourselves away from our emotional scenes and give ourselves permission to view them from THE HUMOR PERSPECTIVE.
Monday, May 18, 2009
TAKE CONTROL
Years ago, in the middle of my comedy career, I was in New York City, driving a rental car that kept breaking down. It was ninety-eight degrees, the air conditioning didn't work, and sweat was pouring from my body. To make matters worse, I was in the world's biggest traffic jam and I was already forty-five minutes late for a very important audition.
I started to feel this snowball of negative emotions building up. I said to myself out loud, "What else could possibly go wrong?" I soon realized that was the wrong question to ask. Whenever you ask a question like that the universe has its own way of answering you.
I drove up to the tollbooth with beads of sweat running down my face. I tried really hard to control my emotions. I reached into my pocket to pay the toll - and realized that I had left my money at home. I sat there in total amazement at the series of events that were keeping me from my destination.
I started to take it personally. I actually believed that life was out to get me that day - and it was succeeding. For a moment I was in a daze. I was unaware of the cars beeping and people cursing at me. The guy in the tollbooth finally asked, "Can I help you?" I don't know what possessed me to say this, but my reply was, "Yeah, I'll have a couple of burgers, two fries, a coke, and get something for yourself there Sparky!" Apparently he was new to this country and he didn't understand my brand of humor. "I'm sorry" he said in an foreign accent, "but we don't have food here!" "Well," I replied nervously, "then you better get some because you're holding up traffic!" As I said this I noticed he was starting to laugh. And much to my surprise, so was I. The long line of drivers behind me, however, did not join in the laughter. There were horns honking and people cursing, "Come on, we gotta get moving!" "What the hell is the problem up there?" Then my new found friend stuck his head out from the tollbooth, motioned to the line of cars, and said, "Sorry we ran out of food. Try the next booth!"
By then we were hysterical over the absurdity of the situation. We were high-fiving each other and the coolest thing is that he let me go without paying. He said, "Thank you my friend. I am new to this country and this is my second day on the job. I really needed to laugh today!" I looked at him and said, "Believe me, so did I!" We shook hands, wished each other a great day, and I drove away from that tollbooth in a totally different mood.
As a result, I was able to plant positive thoughts in my head and think of constructive ways to deal with the important audition I had coming up. Guess what? I had a great audition! It's a good thing I did, because it led to the most important break in my career. That's how I got my Show Time television special, which paved the way to many other opportunities.
Think about this. What would have happened if I had gone to the audition in the mood that I was in before the tollbooth incident? I wouldn't have had a chance. Not in the mood I was in. In fact, I almost turned the car around to go home. Believe me, I tried everything to control the situation. After all, I read all of the books on positive thinking and positive affirmations. I thought I was an expert. I found out that day that positive thinking and reciting positive affirmations doesn't always work; because there are times when you are in such an overwhelming negative emotional state that your brain isn't going to buy the fact that everything is okay.
I mean, there I was, sitting behind the wheel of a stalling car without air conditioning, sweating in ninety-eight degrees, stuck in the world's biggest traffic jam, and late for my audition - reciting affirmations out loud over and over. "Everything is going as planned. I am in control of this situation. I am the radiating center of love and peace." Just then someone beeped their horn and I motioned to him with my fist and shouted, "Pick a number pal!" Not only was I frustrated and angry, because of my ordeal; I also felt totally inadequate, because I couldn't think positively and get control of my emotions.
When I started to laugh, however, I was able to think positively and visualize how I wanted my audition to go. Do you know why? When you start laughing at a stressful or highly emotional situation your brain is no longer concentrating on that negative thought. In fact, your brain is now somewhere else laughing at something ridiculous that you just did. Even if your brain goes back to the negative thought, it won't be as overpowering as it was before, because you have stopped the snowball effect. You have calmed down your nervous system to the point where you can think positively and take control.
That's the first time in my life I realized how important it was to be in control of my emotions and how laughter helped me take control.
You never know when opportunity is going to knock, and when it does, you have to be prepared. I can't tell you how many opportunities I've blown in my life, because I couldn't control my emotions. I can't tell you how many bridges I burned, because I made decisions when I was in an unhealthy state of mind.
It doesn't matter what you call it. You can call it karma, payback, or the laws of cause and effect. It doesn't matter. The fact is, the choices you make will determine the actions you take. The actions you take will determine who you are and where you go. This holds true on any level of your life, in all your personal and professional relationships.
I started to feel this snowball of negative emotions building up. I said to myself out loud, "What else could possibly go wrong?" I soon realized that was the wrong question to ask. Whenever you ask a question like that the universe has its own way of answering you.
I drove up to the tollbooth with beads of sweat running down my face. I tried really hard to control my emotions. I reached into my pocket to pay the toll - and realized that I had left my money at home. I sat there in total amazement at the series of events that were keeping me from my destination.
I started to take it personally. I actually believed that life was out to get me that day - and it was succeeding. For a moment I was in a daze. I was unaware of the cars beeping and people cursing at me. The guy in the tollbooth finally asked, "Can I help you?" I don't know what possessed me to say this, but my reply was, "Yeah, I'll have a couple of burgers, two fries, a coke, and get something for yourself there Sparky!" Apparently he was new to this country and he didn't understand my brand of humor. "I'm sorry" he said in an foreign accent, "but we don't have food here!" "Well," I replied nervously, "then you better get some because you're holding up traffic!" As I said this I noticed he was starting to laugh. And much to my surprise, so was I. The long line of drivers behind me, however, did not join in the laughter. There were horns honking and people cursing, "Come on, we gotta get moving!" "What the hell is the problem up there?" Then my new found friend stuck his head out from the tollbooth, motioned to the line of cars, and said, "Sorry we ran out of food. Try the next booth!"
By then we were hysterical over the absurdity of the situation. We were high-fiving each other and the coolest thing is that he let me go without paying. He said, "Thank you my friend. I am new to this country and this is my second day on the job. I really needed to laugh today!" I looked at him and said, "Believe me, so did I!" We shook hands, wished each other a great day, and I drove away from that tollbooth in a totally different mood.
As a result, I was able to plant positive thoughts in my head and think of constructive ways to deal with the important audition I had coming up. Guess what? I had a great audition! It's a good thing I did, because it led to the most important break in my career. That's how I got my Show Time television special, which paved the way to many other opportunities.
Think about this. What would have happened if I had gone to the audition in the mood that I was in before the tollbooth incident? I wouldn't have had a chance. Not in the mood I was in. In fact, I almost turned the car around to go home. Believe me, I tried everything to control the situation. After all, I read all of the books on positive thinking and positive affirmations. I thought I was an expert. I found out that day that positive thinking and reciting positive affirmations doesn't always work; because there are times when you are in such an overwhelming negative emotional state that your brain isn't going to buy the fact that everything is okay.
I mean, there I was, sitting behind the wheel of a stalling car without air conditioning, sweating in ninety-eight degrees, stuck in the world's biggest traffic jam, and late for my audition - reciting affirmations out loud over and over. "Everything is going as planned. I am in control of this situation. I am the radiating center of love and peace." Just then someone beeped their horn and I motioned to him with my fist and shouted, "Pick a number pal!" Not only was I frustrated and angry, because of my ordeal; I also felt totally inadequate, because I couldn't think positively and get control of my emotions.
When I started to laugh, however, I was able to think positively and visualize how I wanted my audition to go. Do you know why? When you start laughing at a stressful or highly emotional situation your brain is no longer concentrating on that negative thought. In fact, your brain is now somewhere else laughing at something ridiculous that you just did. Even if your brain goes back to the negative thought, it won't be as overpowering as it was before, because you have stopped the snowball effect. You have calmed down your nervous system to the point where you can think positively and take control.
That's the first time in my life I realized how important it was to be in control of my emotions and how laughter helped me take control.
You never know when opportunity is going to knock, and when it does, you have to be prepared. I can't tell you how many opportunities I've blown in my life, because I couldn't control my emotions. I can't tell you how many bridges I burned, because I made decisions when I was in an unhealthy state of mind.
It doesn't matter what you call it. You can call it karma, payback, or the laws of cause and effect. It doesn't matter. The fact is, the choices you make will determine the actions you take. The actions you take will determine who you are and where you go. This holds true on any level of your life, in all your personal and professional relationships.
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